Bale-tie machine



G. E. BULL BALE TIE MACHINE July l, 1930.

'7 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 25, 1929 July 1, 1930. G. E. BULL BALE TIE MACHINE Filed March 2s. 1929 '7r Sheets-Sheet l72 INVENTOR r ,lf

July 1, 1930. G. E. BULL IBALE TIE MACHINE Filed March 2.3, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet T N E V m July l, l1930. G. E. BULL BALB TIE MACHINE Filed March 25, 1929 7 sheets-sheetA 4 INNT-QR l July 1, 1930. G. E. BULL' 1,769,330

BALE TIE MACHINE Filed March 23, 1,929

7 sheets-shewy 5 INVEN'IR i] m v July l, 1930. G. E. BULL 1,769,330.

BALB TIE MACHINE Filed Marh 23, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INV'M July l, 1930. G. E. BULL BALE TIE MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 23, 1929 y n d ga/XM@ Patented July l, 1,930

UNETED STATES Param caries i anonceV E. BUn-L, or BELLE VERNON, rnNNsYLVANIA, AssrGNon To PITTSBURGH sTnnL COMPANY, or PITTSBURGH, rENNsYLVANrA, n oORPORATIoN or :PENN- SYLVANIA.

BALE-Trn MACHINE Application led March 28, 1929. Serial No. 349,416'.

Myy invention relates to bale-tie machines for rforming bale-ties consisting of strands ofwire having loops at one end thereof, although it is susceptible of use in various other 1. arts.

One of the objects of my invention is to forma loop in the end of a wire and then advance the wire to be cut off in suitable predetermined lengths.

Another object of my inventionis to provide improved mechanism for advancing the bale-tie wire to be cut off in lengths and which may be readily and easily adjusted to vary the length of the bale-ties.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved mechanism for forming the loop in the end of the bale-tie wire.

Still another object of my invention is to provide improved gripper and twister mechanism wherein the gripper mechanism may be readily adjusted to control the gripping action, on various gauges of wire to avoid weakening the bale-tie.

A further Object is to provide simplified 'l releasing and counting inechanisnnthe releasing mechanism serving to guide t-he completed lbale-tie.

rstill further object is to simplify and improve generally bale-tie machines, including machines wherein a plurality of bale-ties may beV formed simultaneously.

These and other Objects of the invention will appear in the description hereinafter set forth, taken in conjunction with the drawinns.-

ldeferring to the drawings, Figures l and 2 when placed end to end show in side elevation ythe complete machine, Fig. l illustrating the bale-tie forming mechanism, and Fig. 2 illustrating thebale-tie releasing mechanism, various parts being broken away; Fig. 3 is a-plan view of the bale-tie forming mechanism shown in Fig. l; Fig. l is a transverse sectional View *fairen along the line lV--V of Fig. 2; Fig, 5 is an enlarged detail View, partlyin section, of thelooping and twisting` mechanism; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the parts shown `in operating position; is a fragmentary end view taken along' thea line VHMVH ofV Fig. 5, showing` the' ties.

looping mechanism; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken along line VIH-VIII of Fig. 5; Figs. 9 and l0 are fragmentary plan views showing the looping and twisting operations; Fig. l1 `is an enlarged side elevational View of the adjustable feed-actuating mechanism; Fig. l2 is a vertical sectional View of the samejFig. 13 is a transverse elevational sectional viewv of the wire feed mechanism, and Fig. Mis a transverse sectional view, on an enlargedscale, of the bale-tie release guide.

Referring to the drawings, a suitable framework for supporting the parts of the machine comprises a base l having` vertical stands 2 secured thereto2 to which side frame members 3 and 4 are securedy parallel with each other at each sideof theI stands. Channel beams 5 aresecured to the rear ends of the side. frames andfaligned therewith, and are. supported by the stands 6 and secured to the base 1. v

Wire straightenc'ersv of any suitable construction are securedV to the forward end of the frameto straighten the wires used to form bale-ties.

As is shown in Fig. Bof the drawings, the mechanismy for forming the bale-ties is disposed between the parallel side frame members and includesa drive, a feeddevice, a wire cutter7 a bending device, a gripper and twister mechanism, a guide. for the completed baletie, and the before-mentioned wire straightener. disposed in longitudinal alignment, so that the bale-tie. wire has an unobstructed straight path of travel through .the machine. c Owing to the improved and simplified construction of the various devices, a plurality of duplicate mechanisms may be disposed adjacent to each other to formy a plurality of Vbale-ties in a single operatiomwithout unduly increasing the over-all width .Of the machine, thereby increasing, the output of the machine, with a consequentsavingin time and factory space.

At therear end ofthe bale-tieV forming mechanisms,.as shown in Figs. l and 8, l have providedari-improved wire feed and length control device which may be readily and easilyadjusted to vary the length of the bale- This device and the drive serve to Oper- Each of the enumerated devices are ate each of the separate bale-tie forming mechanisms.

Adjustable wire feed mechanism Feed-rollers 8 are mounted'on a shaft 9 which is suitably mounted in bearings in the side frames 3 and 4, Fig. 1, 3 and 13. Adjacent to each feed-roller 8 is a gear wheel 10 which is secured to the shaft 9. Above each of the feed rollers 8 are located a feed roller 11 and a gear 12 mounted on a pin 13 which is supported in the outer end of an arm 14. A shaft 15 is mounted in suitable bearings on the side frames 3 and 4 and pivotally supports the arm 14. The gear wheels 10 mesh with the gear wheels 12, so that the feed rollers 8 and 11 move together to advance the wires when the shaft 9 is rotated.

A transversely-extending bar 16 is disposed beneath the arms 14 and is secured to the side frames. A web on the arm 14 is provided with slots through which pins 17 pass and are threaded into the bar 16. A spring V18 surrounds each pin 17 `and bears on one of the arms 14, and a thumb nut 19 serves to regulate the tension of the spring, in order that the pressures on the wires between the feeder rollers Ymay be adjusted to prevent slippage of the wire during the feeding movement.

The shaft 9 carries a pinion gear 2O that meshes with a gear wheel 21 which is secured to a shaft 22 journaled in the side frames 3 and 4. Gne end of the shaft extends through the frame 4 and carries a pinion gear 23 that meshes with a gear wheel 24. The gear 24 is securely mounted on a hub of a ratchet wheel 25 (Figs. 3 and 13) which is loosely mounted on a ack-shaft 26. The ack shaft 26 is mounted in the side frame 4 with one end abutting the shaft 9 and the other end is journaled in an upright 27. A ratchet arm 28 is loosely mounted on a hub of the ratchet wheel 25 and carries aV pawl 29 for engaging the ratchet teeth.

One end of a connecting rod 30 (Figs. 1, 3 and 13) is secured to the ratchet arm 29 and its other end'is secured to an adjustable crank arm 31 which is secured to a crank arm plate 32 (see Figs. 11, 12 and 13). The plate 32 is mounted on a hub of a gear wheel 33 and is secured thereby by means of the bolts 34. The gear 33 is mounted on one end of a shaft 35 which is journaled in bearing brackets 36 secured on the side frames 3 and 4.

The crank arm plate 32 is provided with elongated parallel projections 37 which form a diametrical channel 38 in which the crank arm 31 is adjustably positioned. The crank arm 31 is provided with a plurality of elongated slots 39 through which securing bolts 40 extend into certain of spaced-apart tapped holes in the bottom of the channel 38.

Due to this construction, it will be appar ent that the crank arm throw7 may be readily and easily adjusted by the positioning of the crank arm 31, the length of the ccthrow being determined by the radial position of the crank pin. Y

Rotative movement of the crank arm 31 imparts an oscillatory movement, through the connecting rod 39, to the ratchet arm 28 and causes the pawl 29 to include a predetermined number of ratchet teeth for each oscillation, thereby causing the feed rolls 8 and 11 to advance a predetermined length of wire. For example, the degree of oscillation is `determined by the crank pin throw7 and the gear ratio between the shafts 26 and 9 is such that for an oscillatory movement of the arm 28 to include one ratchet tooth, three inches of baletie wire is advanced by the feed rolls 8 and l1.

By positioningrthe crank arm 31V so that oscillatory movement of the ratchet arm 28 causes the pawl 29 to include seventeenteeth, the feed rolls advance sufficient wire to form a bale-tie four feet in length, with three inches of' wire remaining to form the loop in the end thereof, the loop being formed as hereinafter described. l

The shaft 9 extends'through the side frame 3 and a ratchet wheel 41 is secured to its outer end. Anarm 42 is loosely mounted on the shaft 9 and carries a pawl 43 for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel. A connecting rod 44 has one end secured to the ratchet arm 42, the other end being secured to a lever 45 which is pivotally secured to the end of the side frame 3. A roller 46, carried by the lever 45, engages a cam 47 which is mounted on the out-er end of the shaft 35.

The cam 47 is positioned on the shaft 35 so that immediately after the completion of wire-advancing movement, heretofore 'described, it engages the roller 46 to oscillare the lever 45 which oscillates the arm 42. If h the wire-feedingmechanism has advanced the wire accurately to the proper length, it will come to rest with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 41 disposed in a delinite angular relation to the cam-operated pawl 43. The forward movement of the arm 42 carrying the pawl 43, therefore does not cause any further movement of the wire. However, should the wire feeding mechanism come to rest before the correct angular disposition between the pawl and ratchet wheel has been reached, the pawl on the forward movement of the arm 42, engages the tooth on the ratchet wheel and advances it into the correct angular position, thereby causing further operation of the feeding mechanism to advance the wire to the accurate length.

The ratchet wheel 41 is provided with a number of teeth, corresponding in ratio, to the number of teeth on the ratchet wheel 25 as the ratio between the shaft 9 and 26. Thus, the angular relation between the pawl 43 and the ratchet teeth of the ratchet wheel 42 remains constant for the predetermined lengths of bale-tie wires.

sov

This is an important f'eatureiof my inveir tion, as I amiable thereby to formlbale-tics of a predetermined length with accuracy in the length of each bale-tie.

The ZM/ving mechanism A drive shaft is journaled in suitable bearings inthe side frames 3 and 4, and a ringgear 51 is secured to the loutervend of the shaft adjacent tothe lframe 4. A .jackshaft 52 is journaled in a suitable bearing depending`from the frame v4 and carries a pinion 53 and a ringgear 54, the pinion 53 meshes with and Ydrives thegear 51 andthe ring gear 54 meshes with a pinion 55 which issecured tothe shaft -of a ymotor 56.l The ring gear 51 meshes with the gear v33 of the crank arm plate 32V to operate the wire-feed mechanism as heretofore described. f

The twister mechanism'is driven from-the shaft- 50 by a gear train that includes a gear 57 carriedby the shaft 50 and meshing-with a gear 58 that is mounted on a shaft y59. An

Vidler gear v60 meshes with the 'geary 58 and drives a gear 61 which is mounted 'on a shaft 62. A gear 63 carried by the shaft 62 meshes with a pinion gear 64 mounted on a` shaft A gear wheel 66 issecured to the outer end of the shaft 65 and meshes with a pinion gear 67 mounted on one end 'of a jack-shaft 468 which is journaled in 'abearing block 69.

f A 'bevel gear 70 ismounted on 'the other end of the jacklshaft 68 and drives a .bevel gear 71 which issecured to the end of a' .guide sleeve 7 2 that is rotatably mounted in a' bearing block 73 extending transversely between and secured to the frames 3 and-4.` .Similar guide sleeves L72 are equally spaced apart and supported in the bearing block 73 and each sleevefcarrles 'a gear ywheel 74 thatl intermeshes with the adjacent gears. Thus, t-he bevel gears and 71, through the gear train 74 drive each of the guide sleeves 7 2.

A transversely-extending bar 75 is secured to the frames 3 `and`4 vand'carry equallyspaced apart bearing yblocks 76 for fslidalbly supporting one `end of hollow twister-head shafts 77, the other end of the shafts being sldab-ly'secured in the sleeves-72, for `a purp-ose to be hereinaftervdescribed.

Wire-cutting me chzim'sm The bale-tie wire is fed between cutter blocks that carry cutter ,plates for cutting the wire into lengths after the completion of thebar being slottedto receive and fg'uide cutter bl'o'cks 82 which are slidably secured therein. .The upper-.endsof the cutter blocks are y:biffurcatedrand have vconnection with the outer ends vof 4'arms83that are secured to a rockshaft 84 whichlis pivot-ally mounted in the bearing brackets .36.

'The `shaft '84y carries a rocker arm 85 ithat hasy a roller .86.secured to its outer end. The roller 286 )co-operates with `a cam L87 that is mounted on theshaft 35 to force the cutter blocks downwardly, vrthereby severing the bale-tie wires thatare'positioned between the y cutter plates .80 Yand 88 (Figs. 3 'and i6) Wire .ter/ding or looping-mechanism The bIv'LCltets 79 that fare secured Eto :the side yframes3 and 4'support a Vpin Vibar `90A igs. 5 and 6) a pin guidebar 91 'and 1an upper bearing bar.92,.all of whic'h'are verti cally aligned above ythe .shaft 50. 'hebrac'lr-l by vertical movementofthe 'bar 9() to permit f the baleftie wires to belooped therearound.

Rollers 94 carried adjacent to each end of A the bar.90.co-operatevv with cams 95Y thathare mounted on the driveshaft 50 to raise' the pin bar 90 thereby projecting thc'pins-f93 upwardly immediately following the cutoff operation. Y y

Above leach pin V93xand .supported by the bearin'g'bar92 is Ya, studfshaft v96 which carries iat. its upper end va pinion gear 97, :and

at itslowe'rlenda folding plate' 98. The plate 98is vertically spaced with respectv to the upper surfacey of the yguide bar 91 and the bale-tie wire passes therebetween. The plate 98 carries a downwardly'projecting,pin .-99V

which is so Vpositioned that it lies to one side of the looping 4pin 93, and the'bale-tie wire lis brought `int-o positionfwith the pin 93.011 one side and thepin 99 on the. other rside thereof,y

as shown in Figs. 8 and A9.

The Vwire normally lies above the loopforming pin 93 (Fig. 8'), and in order` to position it so that it will assume theA position as shown in Fig.`9, to lie between the pinsf-93 and 99, a. cammingibar 100 is provided and secured to the cutter "block 82. Upon vthe downward stroke of the cutter block the lowerend of the cambarlOO engages the wire 191 and pushes it into the desired position, to one side ofthe pin 93 which is thereafter projectedupwardly and into the folder plate 98.

An'idler gear 1 O2isf-positione'd `between eachlof the vpimonfgears97 and meshes ltherew-iithlthusforminga gear train which/is actuated to rotate the folder plate`98 thereby loo-ping the wire 101v around the pin 93 into the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 9. In this position, the folded end of the wire is gripped by twister fingers and twisted in a manner hereinafter explained.

The end pinion gear 97 meshes with an idler gear 103 that co-operates with a rack 104 to actuate the gear train. The rack 104 is slidably mounted in a rack guide 105 that is secured to the bracket 79 (Figs. 1, 3 and 7).

The outer end of the rack 104 has link connection with the upper end of a rocker arm 106 which is pivotally mounted on the side frame 3. The lower end of the rocker arm 106 carriesa roller 107 that has biased engagement with a cam 108 carried on lthe outer end of the drive shaft 50.

The outward thrust of the cam on the roller 107 causes the rocker arm 106 to slide the rack104 inwardly and through the train of gears 97 and 102 oscillates the folder plate through a predetermined degree. The pinion gears 97 are adjustably secured to the shafts 96'in order that the folder plates 98 may be adjusted with their pins 99 in the desired position in relation with the degree of oscillation. In this manner it will be apparent that the degree of bend in the wire may be readily adjusted.

Gripper and twister mecha/msm1 Mounted on the outer end of each of the twister shafts 77 is a twister head 109 which y is provided with a pair of twister fingers 110 that carry co-operating grippers 111 at their outer ends (Figs. 1, 3 and 5). The twister fingers 110 are pivotally mounted on the twister head and are connected by the links 112 to a sleeve 113 which is slidably mounted on the twister shaft 77. A yoke lever 114 secured to the shaft 115 has suitable roller engagement with the sleeve 113. The shaft 115 is suitably journaled in the side frames 3 and 4 and carries a rocker arm 116 which is provided with a roller 117 which engages a cam 118 that is mounted on the shaft 59.

The shaft 115 is rocked by the co-engagement of the cam 118 and the roller 117 which causes the yoke lever 114 to slide the sleeve 113 forward. A spring 119 interposed between the sleeve 113 and the twister head 109 has sufcient pressure that the twister shaft 77 is caused to slide forwardly so that the ends of the twister fingers 110 are brought into positionV to overlie the folded end of the wire 101 as shown in Fig. 9. A stop collar 120 vwhich is adjustably positioned on the shaft 77 behind the bearing block 76 arrests the forward movement of the shaft and twister head.

Due to the fact that the twister heads 109 are constantly rotating, the movement of the shaft 77 as described is necessary in order that the wire may be folded as hereinbefore described without being damaged by the rotating twisters which are only partially open. Y

Further forward movement of the sleeve 113 compresses the spring 119 and the togglelinks 112 cause the vtwister fingers 110 to bring the grippers 111 together into interlocking engagement with the folded end of the wire (Figs. 6 and 10). The wire 101 is twisted into the loop A whileV the twister fingers remain in engagement therewith, the fingers being immediately released from the wire as soon as a predetermined number of twists have been formed, as determined by the timing7 of the cam 118. VRearward movement of the sleeve 113, vby reason of the tension of spring 114a on the arm 114, opens the iinger 110, until the sleeve engages a stop collar 121. Further rearward movement of the sleeve 113 slides the shaft 77 back into its normal position with the collar 121 abutting the bearing block 76.

The stop collar 121 is adjustably positioned on the shaft 77 and the width of the finger opening is determined by its position with respect to the head 109. The position ofthe stop-collar 120 may be adjusted Vto vary the forward movement of the twister shaft, the movement of the sleeve 113 thereafter determining lthe pressure at which the twister lingers will engage the wire. t is obvious therefore, that for various gauges of wire the gripping pressure of the twister lingers may be readily adjusted by positioning the forward stop collar 120, to prevent an excessive pressure that would weaken the wire or sever it altogether.

Wire guide cmd counting mechanism Upon the completion of the loop-forming operation, the cam 95 permits the pin bar 90 to drop, thereby retraoting the pins 93 to disengage loops A. The feeding mechanism again operates to advance the wire. The loop at the head of each wire is projected into a wire guide 125 to prevent; the wire from kinking or bending during the feeding movement. The wire guides are in longitudinal alignment with the twister shafts 77 and feeder rolls 8 and 11. Thus it will be seen that the wires are provided with unobstructed alined passages through the machine, the wires being suitably supported and guided at all times.

The wire is cut oif at the completion of the wire feed, as previously described, the completed bale-ties thus formed resting in the Wire guides 125.

Referring to Figs. 2, 4 and 14, the wire guides comprise pairs of longitudinally-extending grooved channels each pair being pivotally connected by hinges 126 which are secured to their upper edges. Spacer blocks 127 are secured to one of the wire guide channels and are secured to transversely-extending'bars 128 that are supported by the channelsp5. The other guide channel carries an arm.f129- which -is rocked by a rocker arm 130.y and'- opens the wire guide 125.y The rockerv arm 130 is mounted on a shaft 131 which is mounted in suitable bearings supported on the channels 5. An arm 132 is secured to the shaft 131 and carries on its outer end a roller 133 which cooperates with a cam 134 that is mounted on the shaft 35' to rock the shaft 131, thereby causing the arms 130'to rock the arms 129 thus opening the wire guides 125 and releasing thebaleties; The wire guides 125 then close to receive;v the. succeeding bale-ties.

A bale-tie receiving mechanism is located beneath the wire guides 125 in position to receivev the finished bale-ties, said mechanism retaining the bale ties until a predetermined number have been received andy thereafter operating to discharge the ties onto a receiving stand where they may be bundled and removed byan operator. n l

A shaft 140 is rotatably supported in the transverse webs ofr the stands 6 and sets of radiali arms 141 arev located at intervals thereon.V The finished bale-ties are released from the wire guides 125 and drop onto a series of inwardly and downwardly sloping arms 142 which are secured to the inner side of' the channel beams 5. The bale-ties slide downfthe arms 142 and fall between two corresponding radial armsof each set141 where they remain until a predetermined number havei beeni received.

, The shaft 140 and the sets of arms 141 are so; disposed that the weight of the bundle ofA bale-ties tends to rotate the shaft 140. However, the shaft is-provided with a retaining disc 143 which is suitably notched and coi-operates with a latch 144-that is secured to a rock shaft 145, thereby preventing the rotationy of the. shaft 140'. A counting device releases the latch 144 to permit the weight .of bale-ties to rotate the shaft 14()LV and the finished bale-ties are discharged into.` receiving horns 161 which may be formed in. the stands 6. The succeeding bale-ties are received by the sets of varms 141-A while the discharged ties maybe removed, and bundled by an operator.

The counting device is operated by a cam 146,.y which is mounted on the shaft 35 andcooperates with a roller 147 which is carried by an arm 148. One end of the arm 148 is pivotedl to the shaft 84 andr its other end is connected to a rod 149 (Figs. 1 and 4). The rod 149, is` connected to a rocker arm 150y which. is pivotally mounted on a shaft 151 which yis suitably supported in a bearing 152 secured tothe side frame 4. rllhe arm 150 carries a pawl 153 in'position to engage a ratchet wheel 154 that is loosely mounted on the shaft 151. A cam wheel 155 is secured to the ratchet wheel 154 and is provided with a beveled lug,

156which is' adapted towenga-ge the beveled end ofa push rod 157'v oncefor everyrevolution of the ratchet wheel 154. The push rod 157 is slidably supported by a stationary bar 158 which is secured to the shaft 151. The

rod 157 is biased iny its innerposiuion by aV spring 159 and hasl pivotal' connection with an .a arm 160 that is-secured to the roch shaft 145.

When the lug'156`engages the push rod 157, the shaft 145 is rocked to move the latch 1.44 out of engagement. withk the retaining disc 143, to release theaccumulated bale-ties. as

Vpreviously described. The lugV 156 immediately passes out-of engagement with the push rod 157' and permitsthe spring 159 to return the latch 144 into position to engage the succeeding notch inv the: retaining disc 143.`

Briefly, the operation of my machine is as followsr-The wirel to: be formed into baleties is threaded through the wire straighteners 7, betweenv the feed rolls 8 and 11, and

into the hollow twister.y shafts 77. Power is Y applied to the machine and the adjustablel crank` arm 31 operates. the feed rolls to ad- Vancel the-l wires throughs' the twister mechanisms between the cutter blocks and into the wire guides 125.`

Upon completion,y of the wire feed, the cutterreamy 87 operatesthe cutter block 82, which descends and severs the wires. As the cutter'bar 82 descends, the cani bars-100 push the wire, to; one. side, to lie between the pinsy 93 and 99 (Figs. 6 and 9). After the cutting stroke,v the pin bar is raised by the cam and projects the loop-forming pins 93 upwardjinto thexendsof-theshafts 96. Thereupon the cam 108 (Fig. 1) operates thev rack 104" (Fig. 5) whichk rotates the discsy 98 throughxthe-.gears 97 and 102 and loops the end. off the wires around .the pins 9.3 n (Fig. 8). The twister camy 118 nowy operates to slide the twister heads forward tov overlie the ends` of the wires, and then to closethe grippers upon theawires. As each twister head is continuously rotating the wire gripped by leach gripper l is twisted to form the loop. a

When suflici-enttwistsshavebeen formed in the wirey .the cam 118 releases the grippers andthe twister headsreturn to norm-al position. The cam 9.5 permits the pin bar 90 to such as 5.,. until, sayk 250 bale-ties are .comp 'pleted and discharged onto the receiving' mechanism, thereupon the lug 156 (Fig. 4) cams the push rod 157 outward to rock the shaft 145 and releases the latch 144. The weight of the bale-ties rotate the shaft 140 and they are deposited onto the horns 161, to be gathered by an operator.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a bale-tie machine, the combination of a loop-form, means for folding the wire around said form, a rotary head, twister-iingers carried by said head, and means to advance the rotary head forwardly with the said fingers in open position and to close said fingers against the folded wire.

2. In a bale-tie machine, the combination of a loop-form, means for folding the wire around said form, a hollow rotating shaft, a twister head mounted on said shaft, twister lingers carried by said head, and means for slidingsaid shaft forwardly with the saidv fingers in open position and to close said fingers into gripping engagement with the folded wire.

3. In a bale-tie machine, the combination of a loop-form, means for folding the wire around said form, a twisting mechanism comprising a hollow rotating shaft, a twister lhead mounted on said shaft, a sleeve slidably mounted on the shaft, resilient means disposed'between the said head and sleeve, twister fingers carried by the twister head and operatively connected to the said sleeve, and means engaging said sleeve to advance said mechanism forwardly with the fingers in open position and to further advance the sleeve to close the said fingers to grip the folded wire.

4. In a bale-tie machine, the combination with a wire bending mechanism, of a wire twisting mechanism comprising a hollow shaft, a rotatable head mounted on said shaft and having partially open gripper fingers, means for sliding said mechanism forward towards the wire bend, and means for closing said grippers into engagement with the wire.

5. In a bale-tie machine, the combination with a wire bending mechanism, of a wire twisting mechanism comprising a hollow shaft, a rotatable head mounted on said shaft, and having partially open gripper fingers, stop means for limiting forward movement of said shaft, a sleeve resiliently mounted on said shaft, and means engaging 'said sleeve to advance said mechanism against the stop and to further advance the sleeve to close the said fingers to engage the wire and form a loop.

6. In a bale-tie machine, the combinationv of a loop-form, means for folding the wire around said form, a wire twister mechanism, gripper ngers carried by said mechanism, means for advancing said mechanism forwardly with the said fingers in open position and to closesaid fingers to grip the folded wire, and means for controlling the gripping pressure of said fingers on the wire.

7. The combination with a wire twister and means for rotating the same, of a gripping device movable into position for holding the wire during a twisting operation, means for moving said gripping device into engagement with the wires and means actuated by said moving means for controlling the gripping pressure of said device upon the wire.

8.V In a bale-tie machine, the combination with a bale-tie forming mechanism, of a wire feed mechanism therefor, a device for actuating said feed mechanism to advance a predetermined length of wire, and means effective upon failure of the said feed mechanism to sufficiently advance the wire for further actuating said feed mechanism to advance the wire the predetermined distance.

9. The combination with apparatus for operating upon wire, of mechanism for intermittently advancing the wire predetermined distances, and means effective upon failure of the mechanism to suciently advance the wire during a given operation, to further advance the wire until it has completed the said movement of predetermined distance.

10. The combination with apparatus for` operating upon wire, of mechanism forintermittentlyV advancing the wire predetermined distances, a ratchet wheel operatively associated with said mechanism, an oscillating arm having a pawl for engaging thesaid wheel, and means for oscillating said ratchet arm after the completion of the wire advancing movement, said pawl engaging said ratchet wheel to further actuate said mechanism to advance the wire the predetermined distance upon failure of the said mechanism to sufiiciently advance the wire.

11. In a bale-tie machine, the combination with a bale-tie forming mechanism, of a wire guide for receiving and supporting the finished bale-tie comprising a pair of longitudinally extending grooved channels, means for pivotally connecting the channels to form a normallyvclosed bore to receive the bale-ties, means carried by one channel for supporting the wire guide, and means operable to rotate the other channel to open the guide and vdischarge the completed bale-tie resting therein.

123111 a bale-tie machine, the combination with a bale-tie counting mechanism, of a plurality of normally closed wire guides, means operable to open the said guides, downwardly and inwardly sloping guide arms, a shaft having sets of radially-extending arms thereon and dispose in position beneath the said guide arms to receive the bale-ties discharged therefrom, therweight of the accu-- mulating bale-ties tending to rotate said shaft, a latch for preventing rotation of said shaft, and means operative by said counting mechanism for releasing said latch to discharge the bale-ties.

13. In a bale-tie machine, the combination with a wire bending mechanism, of a lcontinuously rotating twister mechanism normally positioned beyond the bending radius of the wire, gripper lingers carried thereby, and means for moving saidv twisterl mechanism forwardly to position the said lingers within the benidng radius of the wire and to close by further movement of the said means tov close the said lingers to grip the bent wire.

15. The combination with a wirebending mechanism, of a wire .twister and gripper mechanism movable longitudinally of said bending mechanism, means for moving the second-named mechanism towards the firstnamed mechanism, and means actuated byl further movement of said moving means for controlling the gripping pressure of the gripper mechanism upon the wire.

In testimony whereof I, the said GEORGE BULL, have hereunto set my hand..

GEORGE E. BULL. 

